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It's Halloween: Diary of a Grieving Mom

At 7:30 a.m. I was already crying. Seeing Mackenzie's excitement about today struck a chord. As much as I wanted to feel her excitement, I could only feel sadness. Xavier loved Halloween. Together he and Mackenzie would plan for weeks even months about Halloween. Xavier loved to dress up in general and he couldn't contain himself on a day dedicated to dressing up. He would go online searching for costumes over and over again. He would pick one then change his mind again. By the time the day actually came, we had already bought him multiple costumes to choose from. I miss watching the two of them get ready and then parade around the house showing off their costumes.

And it wasn't just the costumes either. He loved to decorate the house inside and out. While Mark took care of carving pumpkins with the kids, Xavier and I would always take a trip to the dollar store for lots of creepy decorations. He would have his hands full in seconds. I couldn't bring myself to go this year. Mackenzie used what we had from other years to decorate her room. Even walking through the scary aisle at Walmart made me cry. This day was probably just as exciting for him as Christmas.
I don't want to do it without him. I hate holidays right now. They ignite so much pain thinking of what he is missing and what we are all missing without him here. Days like this it's hard to not think about him non-stop.

I remember last year like it was yesterday. He had a really awesome costume that even riding in his wheelchair it still looked so cool. We went out with his "girlfriend" and family. It was a nice night and we stayed out later than any other year. He just didn't want to stop, even though he could barely walk. We visited friends, teachers, old babysitters... so many special people he knew. And several times he remarked: "This is the BEST Halloween EVER." Little did we know it would be his last.

I am thankful for this memory and can't help but think the powers at be were watching over us that night making sure it was a perfect night.

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